Original artwork, not a still
"On The Spirit of Controversy," The Atlas (1830-01-30)
When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The speaker ties continued interest in a subject to continued controversy about it. When the disagreement ends, interest is said to end with it. This presents argument as part of what holds attention, giving the remark a pointed view of how people remain engaged with a topic.
Context reviewed
